Tune: ASH GROVE (Welsh Melody)
This hymn is all about Christ’s calling us to follow. It
encourages us to follow under any and all circumstances: over mountains,
through valleys, over dreary roads, through dangers and sorrows, doubts and
temptations. In the end, we are reassured that it will be worth it when we rest
in the light beside the still waters in the kingdom above.
This hymnline, however, is tucked away in the third (and
usually final) stanza of Doudney’s hymn: “We
turn from the world with its smiles and its scorning to cast in our lot with
the people of God.”
This casting of one’s lot is a definitive decision. Although
we may think of it as a roll of the dice, it is much less an act of leaving
things to chance; in the case of such a spiritual commitment, it is quite the
opposite.
To turn from the various faces of the world (smiles, snarls,
etc.) to join “his own little band” of believers – this is what we promise as
we sing this hymn. To relate this to sailing, we set our course in the opposite
direction. We pull in all our resources and transfer them over in commitment to
the church… the people of God – gathered and/or scattered.
I hate to use a poker analogy here, but we drag in all of
the chips with which we have previously been taking chances, and invest those
in the kingdom. Instead of casting our lot with those things which are temporary
and not of the Spirit, we line ourselves up with the eternal life of the
Spirit.
What happens in Vegas doesn’t really stay in Vegas; it’s a
great slogan, but we all know better. However, what happens for the Kingdom
stays with the Kingdom. It’s a much better place to cast your lot, don’t you
think?
Hear This Hymn Played
at the Organ
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